Phil Thompson was left asking if Stoke City players were too complacent heading into the game at Newcastle United.

Mark Hughes’s side had received praise for their performance in a 2-2 draw with Manchester United seven days previously but took too long to get going at St James’s Park.

Christian Atsu had given the hosts the lead mid-way through the first half and Stoke were grateful for old boy Joselu’s wayward finishing to still be in the match.

Christian Atsu beats Mame Diouf to the ball before scoring Newcastle United's first goal of the game at St James' Park. (Image: PA Wire)

Xherdan Shaqiri equalised but Jamaal Lascelles scored from a corner and the Potters didn’t take their chances to level again.

Sky Sports pundit Thompson said : “Stoke were better in the second half but Mark Hughes must have been absolutely livid at half-time. These are better than what we’ve seen. They came into this game on the hype of how well they had done against Manchester United. Did they think this game was going to be easy? None of them performed as well as they should have done.

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“They started with three centre-backs, three big lads, and they were way off the pace. Newcastle were quicker to everything. Shaqiri, who scored the goal, I can’t remember how many passes he gave away. It was untrue.

“They got better and Choupo-Moting had a chance in the second half when he really should have done better when he gets a flick from Peter Crouch on the edge of the six-yard box. Then Diouf, late on, should really have scored. Rob Elliot would not have got to the ball.

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“Choupo-Moting was less effective than he had been against Man Utd. He never really got going in the first half, like them all. Jese went for 20 minutes without having a kick. They all just did not do enough.

“They gave the fans something to shout about in the second half but I felt Newcastle well deserved the victory.”

NEWCASTLE UPON TYNE, ENGLAND - SEPTEMBER 16: Joselu of Newcastle reacts after missing a chance during the Premier League match between Newcastle United and Stoke City at St. James Park on September 16, 2017 in Newcastle upon Tyne, England. (Photo by Stu Forster/Getty Images)

It was a third win in a row for Rafa Benitez’s Newcastle.

Thompson said: “They were good and the biggest thing I can say about Newcastle is that there is a lot of confidence oozing through the side. Players that I thought maybe didn’t have the ability or passion to do it every game are rising to the occasion, none more so than the match winner Lascelles. He has been the rock these are built on. He’s the leader. He didn’t start at the start of the season but he’s been terrific.

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He added: “This game should have been out of sight by half-time. Joselu had two very good chances … and just after half-time he had another. He should have had a hat-trick against his former club.

“Maybe he was a little bit too hyped up trying to prove a point and you could argue that’s the reason Mark Hughes let him go. He got in there to get the chances and you’d like to think he’ll get goals if he keeps getting in there and Newcastle keep creating.”